No. 1 UCLA (34-3) vs. No. 3 Xavier (30-6)

Last meeting: UCLA won, 96-83, on March 15, 1997, at Auburn Hills, Mich.

WHO HAS THE EDGE?

BACKCOURT

As well as Darren Collison had been playing, the victory over Western Kentucky again proved that the Bruins' point guard can become mistake-prone when matched up against quick, strong guards. Collison had difficulty handling the Hilltoppers' pressing and trapping and couldn't get the Bruins' offense in working order once across half court. He hit only 1 of 6 shots, turned it over four times. Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, was an ugly 3 of 15 and is now just 19 of 64 (29.7 percent) in the postseason. Oh, and Xavier has some guards who can pressure the ball. Edge: Xavier

FRONTCOURT

Xavier has some bigger bodies than the Hilltoppers, but it, too, could be hard-pressed to do anything with Kevin Love. The Bruins' freshman center scored 29 points and had 14 rebounds in the regional semifinal, and he is fast becoming the only player that UCLA can rely on to play with any consistency. UCLA seemed to forget that in the second half against Western Kentucky, firing up some quick shots. The Musketeers also have a presence inside with forward Josh Duncan, who is hitting 50.2 percent and averaging a team-high 12.4 points per game. Edge: UCLA

BENCH

The Bruins have one. That was a question for much of the second half of the season but is now a statement of fact. James Keefe has become a presence, having come out of his redshirt season in January for the start of Pac-10 play. He has played well the past few weeks, but UCLA still is light in the backcourt. If Collison, Westbrook or Josh Shipp gets into foul trouble again, the Bruins could be in trouble in this spot. Xavier is not particularly deep, but it got quality minutes against West Virginia from forward Jason Love and wing B.J. Raymond. Edge: Even

COACHING

Did Ben Howland do any coaching in the second half of that Western Kentucky game or did the Bruins just not take to it? UCLA allowed an incredible 58 points over the final 20 minutes, which is what they were allowing per game coming in. Worse, the Bruins failed to handle the Hilltoppers' pressure after working against it all week. When they did, they were jacking up poor shots. Somewhere in there, Howland has to get his team settled. If the Hilltoppers had come out in the first half and played more aggressively, UCLA might be sitting at home right now. Edge: Even

OUTCOME: Xavier 77, UCLA 72

The Bruins should win this game, but they again are playing a team that will not shy away from them, as No. 16 seed Mississippi Valley State did in the first round and No. 12 Western Kentucky did in the first half in the regional semifinal. The Musketeers, No. 3 in the West, will compete from the start and have the fortitude to weather some rough spots, as they did in taking down West Virginia to advance to the Elite Eight. If UCLA again is reduced to Love and in need of luck from elsewhere, it will not make a third consecutive Final Four.

ROBERT KUWADA/The Register

PHOENIX -- It's not just Darren Collison, who in UCLA's regional semifinal victory over Western Kentucky Thursday again showed that he can become frazzled when a defender gets into him.

And it's not Russell Westbrook, who in the post-season has hit only 29.7 percent of his shots including 23.5 percent at the 3-point line.

Nor is it simply the lack of an established or consistent third scorer to go along with Collison and indomitable freshman Kevin Love.

But, one victory away from becoming the first team since Duke (1990-92) to advance to a third consecutive Final Four, the Bruins are seen as vulnerable. Maybe, even among themselves.

After the victory over the Hilltoppers, there was talk about focus and a sense of urgency. Love, who has elevated his game through the postseason, averaging 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, said that he intended to address those issues with the Bruins before Saturday, when they play Xavier at the US Airways Center in the Elite Eight. He had not done that as of Friday afternoon, but asked if he felt there was enough doggedness, Love was not an automatic affirmative.

“I know that I have it. I'm feeling it right now. I say that because I mean it,” he said. “I'm feeling that sense of urgency just because of the comebacks and the toll it's been taking on me.

“I'm hoping everybody has that sense of urgency and we're really picking up on that as well. For the guys who have been here before, every year is another year off their time clock, so they need to come out and be playing their best.”

The Bruins are not, though.

“Yeah, I heard Steve Lavin say on TV that there are no kinks in their armor or something like that, like they have no weaknesses and stuff. And it's like, OK, every team has weaknesses,” said Musketeers' guard Stanley Burrell.

“We have weaknesses. Even though were one game away from the Final Four, we have weaknesses that teams can exploit. And there are certain weaknesses that coach is going to bring out and try to exploit. It's a matter of we can of out and execute it.

“It's not like they're an unbelievable team, that they don't mess up at all. They make mistakes like any other team otherwise they'd be undefeated right now. We just have to find out what those weaknesses and listen to what coach is saying during our scout and be ready to concentrate and come in and bring that energy that we have.”

The Musketeers would seem to match up well against UCLA, the No. 1 seed in the West and a favorite to end up in San Antonio next week.

They have guards in Drew Lavender and Burrell who can pressure Collison and the basketball, as Justin Dentmon did when Washington beat the Bruins back in February and as Tyrone Brazelton did in the second half when Western Kentucky erased all but four points of a UCLA lead that was 21 at halftime. They defend and are proficient at the offensive end, leading the Atlantic 10 in field-goal percentage (47.8) and 3-point field-goal percentage (39.6) as well as field goal-percentage defense (40.6) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (33.3).

Whether or not Love makes his voice heard before they take the floor, the message doesn't really change. For 40 minutes, the Bruins must compete or get beat.

“It's the same stuff that Coach (Ben) Howland addresses, as well. I'm going to say to them, we've got to cut down on the number of mistakes and the lack of effort in the second half,” Love said. “It's one thing to come from the coach, but to come from another player on the team … I feel like the players on my team respect me, just with my play out there on the court.”

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.